ARTICLES ABOUT MARYLAND SPORTS BY DATE - PAGE 3

Childs Walker took a look at the mysterious process used to pick the location of the Major League All-Star Game for Tuesday's paper. It's clear why the Orioles -- and those working in tourism and sports marketing in the city -- covet the chance to host the game in 2016. The last time it was here, in 1993, the game delivered an economic impact of $31.4 million , according to city estimates. In 2013 dollars, that's $50 million. (For comparison's sake, the Grand Prix of Baltimore had an economic impact of about $47 million two years ago and $42 million in 2012 .)

Sports business lunch is a collection of business stories from Baltimore and the rest of the country. From The Sun: Lacrosse's growth has been astounding. Deadspin best illustrated this with a map showing the spread of the college game over the last decade . (The site used data from The Growth Blog, another fascinating resource for tracking the way lacrosse has moved across the country.) US Lacrosse, tucked in a building next to Homewood Field - you've likely seen the statue of Native Americans out front playing the game - has driven and managed that growth.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. Does Stefon Diggs have a legitimate chance to win either the Maxwell Award or the Paul Hornung Award? Don Markus: On first glance, you would think that the Maryland receiver and kick returner would be a long shot for any national award, given the fact that the Terps are considered by most to be - at best - a middle-of-the-pack team in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. Of the Maryland players drafted in the NBA between Joe Smith in 1995 and Alex Len in 2013, whose career has been the most surprising and whose has been the most disappointing? Don Markus: There have been more than a dozen former Terps to have played in the NBA in the past 18 years, and only one - Steve Francis - has been an all-star.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. What are your most prominent memories of Alex Len's Maryland career? Jeff Barker: First, some thoughts on Len's new employer, the Phoenix Suns. This is a franchise in transition. They're a season removed from the Steve Nash era and parted ways with coach Alvin Gentry in January. The current coach, Jeff Hornacek, was a popular player with the Suns (among other teams)

Baltimore Sun reporter Jeff Barker and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. What do you make of former Terps quarterback Danny O'Brien leaving Wisconsin and looking for a new school? Jeff Barker: First, a global comment. The NCAA rule allowing many graduate students to play immediately after transferring has had a noteworthy effect on the game. It has generated a class of college “free agents,” of which former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson is perhaps the best known.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. Maryland's 2015 Big Ten football schedule is set to be released Monday. What do you anticipate? Jeff Barker: I know what Maryland is anticipating - a full spread of marquee home games presenting the opportunity for multiple sellouts. This is a major reason why Maryland joined the Big Ten. I don't know the precise schedule yet. But consider that Maryland plays Penn State and Michigan on the road in 2014.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. What is the central issue in the legal skirmishes between Maryland and the Atlantic Coast Conference as the school prepares to join the Big Ten next year? Jeff Barker: There's an issue of jurisdiction. The ACC says North Carolina - not Maryland - is the proper venue to air the dispute. Maryland disagrees. There are suits ongoing in both states.

Baltimore Sun reporters Don Markus and Jeff Barker and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. Given the 2014 schedule announced Thursday by the Big Ten, how tough will Maryland's road back to respectability become? Don Markus: Maryland's $52 million exit fee from the Atlantic Coast Conference after next season seems exorbitant, but its indoctrination into the Big Ten is pretty steep in its own right. Everyone knew the Terps would be stepping up in class in football by switching leagues.

Baltimore Sun reporter Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. Will Alex Len's injury impact his draft status? Don Markus: Len, who will be out four to six months after undergoing surgery to stabilize his left ankle, is definitely going to be a lottery pick in next month's NBA draft. Most mock drafts have the 7-1 center going anywhere from No. 5 to No. 11, but a lot will have to do with the outcome of the bouncing balls that determine the order of the lottery.